US7666044B2 - Method of supplying oil from a floating production structure to an offloading buoy via a thermally insulated flexible transfer duct - Google Patents
Method of supplying oil from a floating production structure to an offloading buoy via a thermally insulated flexible transfer duct Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US7666044B2 US7666044B2 US10/579,753 US57975304A US7666044B2 US 7666044 B2 US7666044 B2 US 7666044B2 US 57975304 A US57975304 A US 57975304A US 7666044 B2 US7666044 B2 US 7666044B2
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- duct
- buoy
- providing
- oil
- floating structure
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L59/00—Thermal insulation in general
- F16L59/14—Arrangements for the insulation of pipes or pipe systems
- F16L59/143—Pre-insulated pipes
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING
- B63B27/00—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers
- B63B27/30—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for transfer at sea between ships or between ships and off-shore structures
- B63B27/34—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for transfer at sea between ships or between ships and off-shore structures using pipe-lines
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L1/00—Laying or reclaiming pipes; Repairing or joining pipes on or under water
- F16L1/12—Laying or reclaiming pipes on or under water
Definitions
- the invention relates to a method of supplying oil from a first floating structure to an offloading structure, comprising the steps of:
- a flexible duct extending between the two structures at a water depth of between 50 m and 500 m, the duct comprising a flexible elastomeric material and having an internal diameter of at least 600 mm and a length of between 1,500 and 3,000 m, and providing at least one pump at the first structure and pumping the oil through the duct at a pressure between 5 bar and 30 bar and at a flow rate between 1,000 and 50,000 m 3 /hr.
- Such flexible ducts are known from WO 02/44607, in which a marine hose is described which may have a length of 2 km or more, extending between an oil rig, FPSO, TLP, SPAR or Semi submersible, and an offloading buoy, such as a catenary anchor leg mooring (CALM) buoy, at depths between 80 and 30 meters.
- the known hose consists of 12-meter elastomeric segments with an internal diameter of 600 mm having end coupling flanges.
- the known duct is applied as a bundle of parallel ducts for increased capacity.
- Rigid steel pipes are also used for transfer of crude oil, and generally have a diameter of 24′′ such that multiple ducts are used in parallel for obtaining sufficient capacity.
- the transfer pipes extending horizontally below water level between the floating structure and the offloading buoy are supported by floaters. Due to the weight of the steel pipes and their limited flexibility, these steel pipes are subject to metal fatigue.
- the surface area of the duct, and hence the resultant heat loss through the surface of the duct is reduced.
- a sufficient wall thickness for instance by providing a wall thickness of elastomeric material between 3 cm and 7 cm, or by providing an insulation layer around the duct such as a layer of polystyrene material of a thickness of between 2 cm and 10 cm, the heat loss through the duct is reduced and crude oil can be pumped at reduced and substantially constant viscosity, such as between 40 cP at 40° C. and 8 cP at 50° C., at low pumping pressures.
- the heat transfer coefficient of the mid depth transfer duct is between 0.1 and 0.5 W/mK.
- the low eat transfer coefficient results in a reduced heat loss over the length of the transfer duct, and in a substantially constant, low viscosity of the crude oil over the whole length of the transfer duct.
- the insulating material may comprise an insulating foam, having buoyancy, such that the transfer duct has for instance substantially neutral buoyancy.
- a friction reducing liner may be included in the transfer duct, such a and Nitrile layer, to obtain reduced pumping pressures.
- FIG. 1 shows a schematic overview of a mid-water flexible transfer hose according to the present invention
- FIG. 2 a - 2 d show different configurations of the transfer hose of the present invention.
- FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal cross section of a transfer hose of the present invention.
- FIG. 1 shows a flexible mid depth transfer hose 1 , which is deployed from a dynamically positioned supply vessel 2 .
- the transfer hose 1 is connected to a CALM offloading buoy 3 via a pull-in wire 4 , connected to a winch 5 on the buoy. By winding up the pull in wire 4 on the winch, a connector head 6 on flooded hose section 7 can be pulled in and locked in connector 8 at the bottom of the buoy 3 .
- the flexible hose 1 has a length of between 1500 m and 3000 m and extends at a depth of between 50 m and 500 m below water level 10 .
- the end of the hose 1 at the side of the supply vessel 2 is connected to a floating structure 12 , such as an FPSO, a TLD (Tension Leg Deck), SPAR or Semi-submersible such as shown if FIGS. 2 a - 2 d .
- a floating structure 12 such as an FPSO, a TLD (Tension Leg Deck), SPAR or Semi-submersible such as shown if FIGS. 2 a - 2 d .
- the hose 1 is connected to a pump unit 13 , which is connected with an inlet duct 14 to a tank 15 or other oil supply source.
- FIG. 2 a shows a simple catenary configuration of the flexible hose 1 , FIG. 2 b a wave configuration, FIG. 2 c a hybrid configuration with tensioning weights 16 and FIG. 2 d a tethered configuration, in which the hose 1 is connected to the sea bed 17 via tethers 18 .
- Hydrocarbons such as crude oil
- the oil temperature may be 40° C. and its viscosity will be about 40 cP.
- the water temperature at a depth of 200 m will be about 14° C.
- the temperature isolation of the flexible hose 1 which may be formed of rubber, such as described in WO 02/44607, which application is incorporated herein by reference, is such that the temperature difference between the outlet temperature T 0 of the crude oil at the buoy 3 and the inlet temperature T in of the oil at the floating structure 12 is not more than 15° C., preferably lower than 5° C.
- the inlet temperature T in may be between 30° C. and 70° C.
- the reduced heat loss results in a substantially constant viscosity over the length of the hose 1 and hence in improved hydrocarbon flow.
- a single flexible hose 1 extends from the first floating structure 12 to the offloading buoy 3 .
- Multiple off loading buoys 3 may be used, at different distances from the floating structure, each time a single large-diameter flexible hose according to the present invention extends from the floating structure to a respective off loading buoy.
- the hose 1 may comprise an outer layer 20 of insulating rubber or polystyrene, of a thickness of at least 2 cm.
- the layer 20 is a buoyant material.
- the hose 1 has a wall 21 for instance of steel-reinforced rubber of wall thickness of between 0.5 cm and 1.5 cm.
- the inner surface of the wall 21 may be provided with a liner of reduced friction characteristics, such as a liner of Nitrile material.
- the internal diameter Di of the hose 1 is between 500 mm and 800 mm
- the external diameter De of the inner hose part is between 100 mm and 200 mm
- the outer diameter D 0 is between 600 mm and 1000 mm.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
- Rigid Pipes And Flexible Pipes (AREA)
- Thermal Insulation (AREA)
- Loading And Unloading Of Fuel Tanks Or Ships (AREA)
- Reciprocating Pumps (AREA)
Abstract
-
- providing at least one pump at the first structure and pumping the oil through the duct at a pressure between 5 bar and at a flow rate between 1000 and 50,000 m3/hr,
- providing a single flexible duct, and
- providing a wall thickness of the duct such that at water temperatures between 2° C. and 20° C., the oil has at the first structure an inlet temperature Tin and at the second structure an outlet temperature T0 that Tin-T0 is smaller that or equal to 15° C., preferably smaller than 5° C.
Description
-
- providing a single flexible duct, and
- providing a wall thickness of the duct such that at water temperatures between 2° C. and 20° C., preferably between 2° C., and 10° C., the oil comprises at the first structure an inlet temperature Tin, and at the second structure an outlet temperature T0 which is such that Tin-T0 is smaller than or equal to 15° C., preferably smaller than 5° C.
Claims (20)
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP03078631 | 2003-11-19 | ||
EP03078031.3 | 2003-11-19 | ||
EP03078631 | 2003-11-19 | ||
PCT/EP2004/013051 WO2005050083A1 (en) | 2003-11-19 | 2004-11-16 | Method of supplying oil from a floating production structure to an offloading buoy via a thermally insulated flexible transfer duct |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20070051518A1 US20070051518A1 (en) | 2007-03-08 |
US7666044B2 true US7666044B2 (en) | 2010-02-23 |
Family
ID=34610069
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/579,753 Expired - Fee Related US7666044B2 (en) | 2003-11-19 | 2004-11-16 | Method of supplying oil from a floating production structure to an offloading buoy via a thermally insulated flexible transfer duct |
Country Status (9)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US7666044B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1687562A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2007517734A (en) |
CN (1) | CN100455873C (en) |
AU (1) | AU2004291684B2 (en) |
BR (1) | BRPI0416684B1 (en) |
MY (1) | MY146483A (en) |
OA (1) | OA13326A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2005050083A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US11401155B1 (en) * | 2021-05-06 | 2022-08-02 | Bluewater Energy Services B.V. | System for transferring crude oil from an onshore location to a vessel |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2009145920A1 (en) * | 2008-05-30 | 2009-12-03 | Intuity Medical, Inc. | Body fluid sampling device -- sampling site interface |
CN104671185A (en) * | 2013-11-26 | 2015-06-03 | 湖北华舟重工应急装备股份有限公司 | Seabed oil transportation channel |
JP6411057B2 (en) * | 2014-04-01 | 2018-10-24 | ジャパンマリンユナイテッド株式会社 | Marine hose connection method, recovery method and connection / recovery device |
CN116697144B (en) * | 2023-05-31 | 2024-07-05 | 广东工业大学 | Deep-open-sea three-floating-body transfer oil transportation system |
Citations (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3972223A (en) * | 1973-06-13 | 1976-08-03 | Treg S.P.A. | Floating plant for charging and discharging mineral oil products and the like |
US3984059A (en) * | 1973-03-13 | 1976-10-05 | Robert Henry Davies | Liquid handling |
US4315408A (en) * | 1980-12-18 | 1982-02-16 | Amtel, Inc. | Offshore liquified gas transfer system |
US4339002A (en) * | 1979-08-09 | 1982-07-13 | Halliburton Company | Sea buoy discharge manifold system |
US4590971A (en) | 1982-12-23 | 1986-05-27 | Webco Industrial Rubber Limited | Insulated pipeline |
WO2002016726A1 (en) | 2000-08-22 | 2002-02-28 | Crp Group Limited | Pipe assembly |
US6394154B1 (en) * | 1998-05-29 | 2002-05-28 | Single Buoy Moorings Inc. | Transfer pipe system |
US6397895B1 (en) | 1999-07-02 | 2002-06-04 | F. Glenn Lively | Insulated pipe |
WO2002044607A1 (en) | 2000-12-01 | 2002-06-06 | Trelleborg Industrie | Flexible hose with connect flange and method for obtaining same |
US6932121B1 (en) * | 2003-10-06 | 2005-08-23 | Atp Oil & Gas Corporation | Method for offloading and storage of liquefied compressed natural gas |
US6976443B2 (en) * | 2002-12-20 | 2005-12-20 | Narve Oma | Crude oil transportation system |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS59166796A (en) * | 1982-12-23 | 1984-09-20 | ウエブコ・インダストリアル・ラバ−・リミテイド | Heat-insulating pipeline |
CN1065944C (en) * | 1998-09-09 | 2001-05-16 | 中国海洋石油渤海公司勘探部 | Elongated logging and early trial production system for marine petroleum exploration |
US6325036B1 (en) * | 1998-10-30 | 2001-12-04 | Briggs & Stratton Corporation | Starting and stopping device for an internal combustion engine |
-
2004
- 2004-11-16 BR BRPI0416684-1A patent/BRPI0416684B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2004-11-16 EP EP04797959A patent/EP1687562A1/en not_active Ceased
- 2004-11-16 CN CNB2004800341034A patent/CN100455873C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2004-11-16 JP JP2006540310A patent/JP2007517734A/en active Pending
- 2004-11-16 OA OA1200600158A patent/OA13326A/en unknown
- 2004-11-16 WO PCT/EP2004/013051 patent/WO2005050083A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2004-11-16 AU AU2004291684A patent/AU2004291684B2/en not_active Ceased
- 2004-11-16 US US10/579,753 patent/US7666044B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2004-11-18 MY MYPI20044788A patent/MY146483A/en unknown
Patent Citations (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3984059A (en) * | 1973-03-13 | 1976-10-05 | Robert Henry Davies | Liquid handling |
US3972223A (en) * | 1973-06-13 | 1976-08-03 | Treg S.P.A. | Floating plant for charging and discharging mineral oil products and the like |
US4339002A (en) * | 1979-08-09 | 1982-07-13 | Halliburton Company | Sea buoy discharge manifold system |
US4315408A (en) * | 1980-12-18 | 1982-02-16 | Amtel, Inc. | Offshore liquified gas transfer system |
US4590971A (en) | 1982-12-23 | 1986-05-27 | Webco Industrial Rubber Limited | Insulated pipeline |
US6394154B1 (en) * | 1998-05-29 | 2002-05-28 | Single Buoy Moorings Inc. | Transfer pipe system |
US6397895B1 (en) | 1999-07-02 | 2002-06-04 | F. Glenn Lively | Insulated pipe |
WO2002016726A1 (en) | 2000-08-22 | 2002-02-28 | Crp Group Limited | Pipe assembly |
WO2002044607A1 (en) | 2000-12-01 | 2002-06-06 | Trelleborg Industrie | Flexible hose with connect flange and method for obtaining same |
US6976443B2 (en) * | 2002-12-20 | 2005-12-20 | Narve Oma | Crude oil transportation system |
US6932121B1 (en) * | 2003-10-06 | 2005-08-23 | Atp Oil & Gas Corporation | Method for offloading and storage of liquefied compressed natural gas |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US11401155B1 (en) * | 2021-05-06 | 2022-08-02 | Bluewater Energy Services B.V. | System for transferring crude oil from an onshore location to a vessel |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
OA13326A (en) | 2007-04-13 |
WO2005050083A1 (en) | 2005-06-02 |
BRPI0416684B1 (en) | 2017-11-21 |
BRPI0416684A (en) | 2007-01-30 |
CN100455873C (en) | 2009-01-28 |
JP2007517734A (en) | 2007-07-05 |
AU2004291684B2 (en) | 2011-02-10 |
EP1687562A1 (en) | 2006-08-09 |
MY146483A (en) | 2012-08-15 |
US20070051518A1 (en) | 2007-03-08 |
CN1882801A (en) | 2006-12-20 |
AU2004291684A1 (en) | 2005-06-02 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SINGLY BUOY MOORINGS INC.,SWITZERLAND Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:WILLE, HEIN;ROODUIJN, ERIK JAN;REEL/FRAME:017917/0001 Effective date: 20060503 Owner name: SINGLY BUOY MOORINGS INC., SWITZERLAND Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:WILLE, HEIN;ROODUIJN, ERIK JAN;REEL/FRAME:017917/0001 Effective date: 20060503 |
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Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
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STCF | Information on status: patent grant |
Free format text: PATENTED CASE |
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Year of fee payment: 4 |
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MAFP | Maintenance fee payment |
Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 8TH YEAR, LARGE ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M1552) Year of fee payment: 8 |
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FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: MAINTENANCE FEE REMINDER MAILED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: REM.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
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LAPS | Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED FOR FAILURE TO PAY MAINTENANCE FEES (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: EXP.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
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STCH | Information on status: patent discontinuation |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362 |
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FP | Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee |
Effective date: 20220223 |